Huge Gray Lion

Days in the Life...

Monday Mom enjoyed spending the day with her friends from church and then came home from their weekend away in time for dinner. 

Dad had a meeting and so the rest of us played music loudly, did chores, helped the neighbors chase their escape dog, and got food whenever we were hungry. 

I had to leave around 5:00 pm to go babysit for the family with the five little boys and one little girl. If you weren't aware, traffic does not tend to only congest at times when you have plenty of time to sit stationary behind three transportation trucks for 20 minutes... 

The kids were great. They ate and we played games and they watched Curious George while I took a nap on the couch stayed awake ish. They were wide awake even when their parents returned at 10:30 (afternoon naps are great...). 

My drive home was just fine. I sang to stay awake.

Tuesday can be summarized by a lot of pictures and another edition of "I've been Pondering." 

This would be an entire stick of butter 

which I exploded all over the microwave. 

Making "Kitchen Trash." 

The second stick of butter did not explode. 

Chloe was trying so hard to make cinnamon rolls;

first she used twice as much milk and had to throw out the batch.

Then the milk boiled over. 

Then she spilled it.

Finally she got it going. 

Success! 

Hopefully... They weren't for us...

Another country sunset. 

I've been Pondering...

• I love my job. 

  
  
  

  
  After a day of over sleeping, missing breakfast to race out the door, driving 5 minutes the wrong direction, not knowing really where I was going, returning from my errand for Dad to more jobs to do at home, blowing up an entire stick of butter all over the microwave, having to use pink and purple wrapping paper because that's all we had left, and needing to make dinner that I didn't have time to eat with my family, it was so good to get to hold this precious baby. 

  
  It sort of sounds like I had a bad day, but really it wasn't. 

  
  The sun was shining, it was 70 degrees (on the first day of winter!!), I never hit any traffic while out, I got to have coffee, Dad and I invented new cookies together, I began writing another piano song, I saw ways that the Lord had been working this past week, and I enjoyed a fun text conversation. 

  
  Sometimes it's hard to look at the bright side (I struggle more with that on the days that it's cloudy and cold), but our God is faithful. 

  
  In a world where the radio is blasting messages of brokenness, dysfunction, hurt, and anger, and the people around us are striving to keep high their walls of self-protection and in the process hurt others because of the hurt they are experiencing, and where everyone is searching, but few are discovering, Jesus has come. 

  
  We are His messengers who share the news that He has come to mend broken hearts, set right the things off-kilter, soothe open wounds, and bring peace. We carry Him in us so that He can pour out of us. We get to show the world the One they are searching for. He has revealed Himself to us so we can share Him with others. 

  
  Be the light.

  
  
  Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies,
  inspired by an off-hand comment.

Wednesday was Christmas celebration number two at Gramma's house with all of Dad's family. 

There was a time when we all took turns opening gifts one at a time for everyone to see what everyone else got, but that time is no more. There are 18 of us, that would be a long time... 

Gramma had all of the grandchildren's gifts in sacks for each one and everyone was encouraged to "have at it" until all the gifts were open. (That took about 12.5 minutes.) Then we could show each other what we'd received and watch the parents open their gifts. 

No socks needed. I love Texas.

Gramma made these aprons out of two shirts Dad had gotten rid of!

We always take pictures in the wrapping paper pile.

We ate BBQ for lunch, opened gifts, visited (or played), ate dessert, and headed home after 5:00 pm. 

At home gifts were taken to each person's bedroom and we finished getting to see what everyone received. 

Legos anyone? 

We finished the day with dinner in the living room while watching "Little Women." Pretty sure that movie is on my absolute favorite list. 

Thursday everyone slept in, I went for an interesting run, Mom made more cinnamon rolls and worked on Christmas cards to send out, everyone wrote thank you notes, the kids played with their new things, I read 100 pages in a book (haven't done that since Maui), Dad organized in his office and finished things up to take a break the next few days, Christian stayed in bed not feeling great, and we all in general enjoyed a quiet day. 

Christmas music played all day and the windows were open. The kids played outside. 

While on my run I got followed by a huge, gray lion dog. I do not like big dogs. Honestly, they scare me. So I was praying so hard that it would go away. Finally a lady driving by stopped and asked why the dog was following me. She knew where the dog belonged and jumped out to coax him home while I drove her really, really, really nice brand new car. 

That moment when...

You almost fall asleep babysitting.

You explode a whole stick of butter in the microwave.

Gabe takes off his shirt in the middle of church. 

Your little siblings get the same gift you got when you were their age. 

The Herd: Quoted 

"I'm awake...I mean, I'm home." -Me walking into the wall in Mom and Dad's room at 11:30 pm to let them know I was back from babysitting.

"If it wasn't so funny I'd be crying by now. Don't let Mom see any of this." -Chloe trying to make cinnamon rolls. 

"Write a song that actually sounds like you're doing something and that is not crying." -Chloe to me before I go to try composing a new song. 

"I keep checking every gift to be sure they are mine. I don't know why. It's like blowing on cold cereal." -Me opening the gifts in my Christmas sack. 

"Here's my heart, spend it wisely." -Christian 

"It looks like the Lego Store threw-up in here." -Chloe talking about the little girls' room. 

Test Day, Take Two

Wednesday morning Chloe worked at her new job with a local photographer and Mom, Christian, and I went to find Christian a suit for Speech and Debate Tournaments and a few other things like fall/winter shoes for Mom, some makeup products for me, etc. 

We ate at Five Guys for lunch I know, I just shocked 99% of you reading this because we ate somewhere else besides Chick-fil-a and then kept shopping. We were supposed to only be gone for a few hours, but we ended up not getting home until almost 5:00 pm. 

At home I convinced Dad that we should go eat dinner at Babe's so that Mom didn't have to cook. It was also my idea to invite Aunt Cendei to go with us. She then tried to surprise us kids by showing up at the restaurant, but word got out in the car. Gabe was a little late catching on to it. There is always at least one person who is not paying any attention at all. Those people vary at different times, however. 

We had a very pleasant dinner and got home in time to greet Uncle Adam and his daughter who is close to Mia's age, Geneva. 

Thursday morning I left at 9:00 to go take my first CLEP test at UNT. The test was scheduled for 10:00 and I arrived 30 minutes early so I would have plenty of time to find parking. I was told to go one place so I could park for a few minutes, go get a day parking pass, and then go park across the street. 

Well, when I got there, the parking was blocked off with cones and the other parking lot was full. So I drove around for a while to see if there was a parking area that was not reserved. There was not. An hour later I was lost, my GPS was taking me to the wrong places, the testing office was not answering the phone, there was no parking anywhere, I couldn't find anyone to ask for help, I was very much regretting my big cup of coffee before I left, and I was crying. 

I pulled over and called the testing place to reschedule because I'd missed my testing time. I think it was probably pretty evident to the guy on the phone that I was crying.

Two hours after leaving home I was heading back having taken no test. I wasn't exactly feeling all too joyful about the situation and I had no idea why, but it was very evident that it was not a part of God's plan for me to take that test that day. In that I had comfort and later found joy. It was hard nonetheless especially since I'm the type of person who likes to get things over with as soon as possible. (Like taking tests.) 

Mom made me a yummy hot drink to cheer me up at home and I moved on with my day. 

Dad took us to club that afternoon and evening. Chloe and I got final feedback on our duo before our first tournament and Christian got more help with his speech. (It is still being written.) I know we will all be ready when the time comes and we are so grateful for the help we get at club. 

Chloe and Christian debated that night, but I decided to watch a different debate. It went a little long with Chloe and Christian, but as always I think it was good for them. 

While we were at club Grandfather hung out with Gabe and Ava while Mom, Mia, Nana, Uncle Adam, and Geneva went to Medieval Times in Dallas. (It's a show that is set in the medieval time period and has jousting and other fighting and all this other stuff. The audience is assigned different knights to cheer for, etc.) 

Mia and Geneva were really, really, really excited to watch the handsome men fight. And they both were thrown carnations. We will never hear the end of it. 

Mia and her favorite knight.

Friday morning was test day, take two for me and this time Grandfather offered to drop me off and pick me up for my test so I would not have to be anxious about parking. 

For those of you wondering, no, I was not nervous or stressed and I don't know why. I just wasn't. Was I concerned about not passing? YES. 

I was plenty early again which gave me time to ask five different people how to get to the testing center. I did find it eventually. 

There was only one other person testing at the same time that I was and the two guys running the place were very patient with me. (I could not for the life of me figure out how the locker worked.)

I was taking the CLEP test for Analyzing and Interpreting Literature. It took me about an hour and I did pass! I was so relieved. 

Late afternoon and evening was birthday party time for Nana at our house. We made taco salad bowls and then had ice cream and cookies for dessert. 

Dad had finally gotten a call from the Doctor's office saying that his first heart tests showed nothing to be concerned about. That was very happy news to share with everyone. 

After dinner Chloe and I performed our duo and then Uncle Adam sampled for us some of the songs he will be singing when he stars in a musical this winter! 

Saturday morning started at 5:30 for Mom and us four older kids. We left at 6:00 to take our two truck loads of stuff to the house where our church garage sale was to be held. Chloe and I went to get everyone breakfast from Chick-fil-a and then met the others at the house to unload and finish helping set up. 

Other church people arrived to help and brought more things to sell. We had people beginning to come by as early at 7:30. 

When doing a huge garage sale someone has to do the Starbucks run!

Chloe and I were not really needed any more by 8:30 and so volunteered to go home and take naps for everyone else. Naps never happened, though.

At home the other kids were playing with their cousins outside and Dad was working. Chloe and I both did some writing (we are extremely behind...) and I worked on laundry and made chili. 

About 3:00 Gabe and I left for church to go work on Operation Christmas Child boxes with some other families. 

The other kids were helping Aunt Cendei with different things, Mom was with a friend after finishing the garage sale, and Dad was still working. They all arrived at church in time for the service.

The box packing went very quickly and I think we did 52 boxes. 

After church we visited for a bit and then went home to eat and go to bed because everyone was very tired. 

Sunday was very slow and restful. (The dreary weather set the stage really well for that.) We had our brunch meal and then the afternoon saw most people in their rooms being quiet reading, or resting, or listening to a story, or playing quietly. The boys also watched some football. 

In the evening after dinner Aunt Amy and Rowan came over to visit. 

This was eaten for dessert.

The Herd: Quoted 

"I want my usual, eat off the table." -Gabe on the way to Babe's

"Yup, that's my usual too, I eat the table." -Mia

"That would make a very solid meal." -Chloe  

"I'll drive with you." -Chloe

"No, I will drive by myself and you can sit in the seat next to me." -Me 

"Whoever is still downstairs in 5 minutes has to pay the next mortgage bill." -Mom at bedtime 

"We don't  have a mortgage." -Me

"Oh yes we do!" -Dad

"But it's exposed to the elements!" -Christian 

"Yellow mints?!" -Mia 

"Its the table of yellow mints!" -Me 

Blessing Upon Blessing

Tuesday I was up before Kate arrived. *Wink* She was so cheerful all day, but decided she wanted me to hold her, a lot. But she didn't just want to be held, she wanted me to work, while I held her. I'm sure all the moms understand even better than I do, but I'm getting to where, whenever she is here, doing stuff with two hands seems too easy. Or maybe that's just me. 

So we had lots of quality snuggles and my arms got a really good workout. 

Baby tips: 

"Lady Rides" is a perfect thing to do with one year olds. And you will get a really good workout. If you finish the song and the child proceeds to bounce on your legs, that means do it again. This could continue for up to 20 rounds.

Also, baby drool is 100% sanitary. Probably. 

That night we had small group at our house. Actually we had "group" at our house. Having 32 people over (which equals close to half our church) is not really small... 

My favorite color is sunset. 

Wednesday morning Ava and I babysat for Nana's Bible study. We had 5 children 5 years and below and then 3 babies. It was so fun! The more the merrier, in most cases. By the end I think Ava was not liking babysitting quite so much anymore, but I love it all the more. Without the bumps and tears and tiredness it's not real life. 

In the afternoon a couple of elders from our church and Grandfather (who is an elder in their church) came over to pray for Gabe (who had strep throat) and Mom and Dad (who have been, obviously, having some health issues- not sleeping, blacking out while driving, etc). 

They talked with Gabe a little and then prayed over him. 

The whole time they were here was anointed with prayer, throughout the conversation and the actual prayer time. We were so incredibly blessed by them coming all the way out to us. It was a very special, God-ordained afternoon. 

Thursday morning I had coffee and study time with my friend again. 

Dad and Chloe left early afternoon to go to Costco and then to the doctor for Dad to have a heart monitor thingy put on for the next 24 hours. 

I drove Christian and myself to Speech and Debate club and Dad dropped Chloe off. Gramma came to watch us this week and it was really fun to have her there! 

Christian has continued to work on his persuasive speech and Chloe and I on our duo. Our first tournament is coming up so it's time to finish fine-tuning everything. 

During the middle of speech time we were all moved down to the church basement while a tornado blew over the area. Then we resumed activity. 

Chloe and Christian got to debate our friends who are brothers, that night. Those brothers had just been to a tournament and got second place! We were super excited for them, and I was thrilled to get to watch my siblings go against them. Everyone did a great job and Chloe and Christian got great feedback. 

During debate time Mom and the littles were in the closet at home waiting out a tornado warning. (Dad was still en route.) Thankfully they just had hail, rain, and lightning. And praise the Lord, our roof survived!! 

Before the storm.

Only took me three weeks... 

Friday morning Mom and the littles had "coffee school." 

I left pretty early to go to my nanny job and then after that to babysit for a family in our church. It was one of those days that I kind of forgot about food. But everything with the kids went really well. 

The little girl I nanny for took a four hour nap which was awesome! 

Then the other family with 5 boys and 1 girl were super good for me. Minimal tears and lots of energy. I did not fall asleep on the couch.

It was 11:30 pm by the time I got home. I was so grateful that it was not raining. 

That moment when...

You watch two 18 month old twins happily playing together and think "so this is what having twins is like."

You get to change one child's diaper while holding another child.

You are holding two wailing babies and think "so this is what having twins is like."

You and your sister finish babysitting 8 children and you leave with tears and drool and...other wet substances...all over your shirt. 

You finally realize what the expression 'waste not want not' means,

You're so tired everything is beyond funny.

A random older gentleman comes over to tell you and your friend that you both have beautiful hair.

The Herd: Quoted 

"Your hair is too long. You are almost sitting on it!" -Gabe to me 

"So that guy I just met next door is single..." -Mom to me 

"I don't want North Korea to do anything, we are debating about Taiwan." -Christian during cross examination in debate  

"...And I never started the timer." -Christian mid-debate speech 

"I'm so hungry I could eat a bear!" -Gabe at breakfast  

"Well, we are out of bears, but let's see what we can find." -Dad

"I sat in the tree blind and froze my patootie off." -Christian  

"Aww I liked you patootie... Will it grow back?" -Mom 

"I was thinking we might schedule a pregnancy massage for 'so and so'." -Mom

"I'm happy to get one too. A massage, not a pregnancy one, that is not one of my current conditions." -Dad

"Dad, you are really doing well at being funny these days!" -Me 

Hair in the chicken and several birthdays

Friday was Mia's 6th birthday! She was sooooooo excited to have a birthday, and told everyone about it. 

That morning, Mom and Dad took her out to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then ran errands. 

Meanwhile, the other kids decorated the downstairs some to surprise her, made cards, and ran to Dollar General to get a balloon, a card, and a couple of gifts. 

My Instagram post for her.

Texting with Mom while they were out.

The card collection.

Mia received a card from Gabe that made for some classic reactions. The card wasn't exactly something that should be shown on a family blog... But since Gabe was the one picking it out and Mia was the one receiving it, it was okay for once. 

The pictures are a little dark, she is smiling really big.

Now she is *palm foreheading*

This is my favorite.

In the afternoon, Mia came down with a fever and rested. She was very cheery, but didn't feel good. The rest of us, including Nana and Grandfather, enjoyed her dinner meal and she joined us for dessert. 

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to get this photo facing the right direction, 

but here is her cake! (There was also rainbow sherbet and ice cream.)

We did not make a very big dent...

We finished the birthday celebrations by viewing "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." 

Saturday saw the beginnings of packing activity! Mom began working with the littles to get their clothing together. It's coming up! 

I finally got a GOOD curtain set up for our theater. The last one was made of a jump rope and a sheet and safety pins. It did not work very well. Like, at all. 

This one is made of a metal pipe, curtain rings, and a fancier sheet. 

And we have a costume rack! Instead of the floor... 

"Pose real quick on the stage."

Like our pillow- I mean rocks?

I did some other sewing. These pillows are adorable!

Mom and Mia stayed home from church, as Mia was still not well. The rest of us bid most of our church family good-bye for six years a month. (We still will see some of them at small group on Tuesday.) 

Sunday, we were all out the door by 10:30 am. The goal was 10:00 am. I drove Christian and Ava down and the others took our other small car so that we would be able to come home in shifts if needed/wanted. 

At Gramma's we all received our photo books containing all the best pictures that would fit in the books. Because there was no way we could get ALL the best ones to fit in just two big books... It was SO fun to get to look through it, and take a trip down memory lane, knowing that by the end of the week some of us will already be there! 

Soon, the rest of Dad's side of the family arrived, and we all ate pizza...and salad. Grandpa had been in Montana since the middle of July, and was not supposed to arrive home until the end of this month I believe, but Gramma was missing having him around so on Friday he packed up in two hours and drove almost straight through to get home as fast as possible. He arrived early afternoon, and was warmly welcomed by all. 

The main purpose of the family gathering was to celebrate Aunt Candice, Mia, and Chloe's birthdays, as well as to give everyone opportunity to see us one more time before we leave. 

We of course had ice cream and brownies for dessert, opened cards, took pictures, and some of the kids swam. 

At home we showered and had smoothies and popcorn for dinner while watching "Five Mile Creek."  

Gabe wanted his own personal screen.

(We are having to play disks in our laptop because the DVD player is messed up.) 

We Are Grateful

Getting to spend time with friends. -Ava

That my new math book finally came. -Chloe

That I'm doing better in math than I was. -Christian 

For a week at home more so than before. -Me

I've Been Pondering

First, a story. 

Our little cousin climbed onto a chair to switched off the fan while we were at our family gathering (we'd asked him to). The first time, to get down, he turned around and slowly, cautiously, slid to the ground. 

Then we wanted the fan back on a little while later. So he tip-toed over to the chair, climbed back up, hit the switch, and this time all while his dad stood next to him to help him. (The first time he hit several of the wrong switches.) 

When he finished he turned, and without hesitating, leaped off the chair, knowing his dad was standing right there, and would catch him. 

The cute exchange probably lasted all of 45 seconds, but what a picture! 

How often do we hesitate to carry something out, afraid that we will "fall?"

 We know God is standing right there to help us and we know the moment we take that "leap of faith," He will place His arms around us and set us gently down in the very center of His will. 

Our cousin was confident of his dad's love and care and ever watchful eye and so to choose to leap was hardly something he even had to stop to think about (in fact, he didn't really).

When will we stop hesitating? 

When will we be completely confident of Our Father's love and care and ever watchful eye? 

When will we leap in faith? 

The Herd: Quoted

"Did you brush your teeth, Gabe?" -Dad

"Not quite." -Gabe

"I spit a little on the cake." -Mia 

"Why don't they just blow the stinking thing up?!" -Gabe talking about who knows what.

"Man! I just dipped my hair in the chicken." -Me

"Lydia be the first one up on a Sunday? That's a joke." -Mom

"Did you get some salad?" -Dad

"Not quite." -Gabe

"We read our favorite book in the car." -Mom
"Our Maui journal?" -Me
"Yup!" -Mom